Filmmaker Profile: Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder
Jeffery Scotti Schroeder
Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder is a New York-based Producer, Writer, and Director. Jeffrey has directed projects for A$AP Rocky, Kit Kat, Clario, Kanye West, Jordan Brand, Travis Scott, DJ Khaled, and Tony Hawk to name a few, and was nominated for AICP's Best Regional Director. His TV directing credit includes SAME TIME NEXT WEEK. His feature directorial debut is OR SOMETHING. He is a proud member of the invite-only Mushroom Identification Forum on Facebook.
This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series.
What inspired you to create this film, and how did the initial idea come to you?
Kareem Rahma and Mary Neely partnered together with the intention of making a low-budget independent film. Meeting up once a month for almost a year, the pair purposefully chose a storytelling structure that would allow for a lot of talking. They would pick a topic and talk about said topic before transcribing it into dialogue for the script. Their intention was to tell an honest story without holding back.
Why does this story need to be told now?
A lot of people think the opioid crisis is a thing of the past, but it's not. Many people still struggle with addiction in this same way and a lot of those who are affected are not the "bum" or "derelict" stereotype many imagine. Addicts take any shape and size, just like Olivia.
What was your favorite part of making your film? Memories from the process?
Our shoot was six days of mostly exteriors in the freezing cold. The crew really came together and brought levity to the process, making it a very memorable shoot.
Were there any films or directors that influenced your approach to this project?
The "Before" Trilogy (anything Linklater), "My Dinner with Andre," "When Harry Met Sally," "What Happened Was..." (Tom Noonan), The Duplass Brothers, Joe Swanberg
How do you feel about your film being screened in front of a festival audience?
We're so grateful to have our film on a big screen in a room full of people, especially fellow movie lovers.
Early bird or night owl?
Night Owl!!
Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder’s Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series
